Fuse adapter

ABSTRACT

A fuse block adapter by which a fused circuit may be added to an existing fuse block utilizing available fuse clips without tools and without disrupting existing circuitry. Other fuse circuits may be provided by the stacking of the adapters.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 Dipace I July 3, 1973 [54] FUSE ADAPTER 2,308,596 1/1943 D ir 337/213 x 1' Inventor: George p Oganala Nebr- 1,990,176 2/1935 Fried ..337/ 197 [73] Assignee: 3 B & D P fodlicts, Inc., Ogallzilh, A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Nebr. 604,510 5/1960 Italy ..339/154 A [22] Filed: 1971 Primary ExaminerBerna.rd A. Gilheany [21] Appl. No.: 198,330 Assistant Examiner-Dewitt M. Morgan Attorney-L. Lawton Rogers, 111

[52] U.S. C1. ..339/3l B, 337/209, 337/215 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl.....H0lh 85/54, H0111 85/60, H011 29/00 A fuse block ada pter by WhlCh a fused circuit may be [581 Search 337/197 208, 209, added to an existing fuse block utilizing available fuse 339/31 B, 154 R, 154 A, clips without tools and without disrupting existing cir- 156 157 R cuitry. Other fuse circuits may be provided by the stacking of the adapters.

ted Y References 6 Clains, 4 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,536,520 1/1951 Tighe ..337/197 PAIENIEnJuL' 3:915

FIG. 3

IN VENTOR GEORGE DIPACE FIGH 0 BY Bums, bow, 3mm (AZ/4;

ATTORNEYS FUSE ADAPTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an adapter circuit for a fuse block and more particularly to a novel device by which an additional fused circuit may be provided at an existing fuse block without tools and without disrupting the existing circuitry.

In many instances, it is desirable to add an additional and separate fused circuit to an existing circuit panel or fuse block. Where space is not provided on the existing fuse block, it is generally necessary to add a new fuse block which may be difficult due to space considerations, or to utilize one of the existing fuses both for an existing circuit and for the new circuit. This latter alternative is in many instances unacceptable in that the current drawn through both of the circuits must pass through the same fuse creating thereby the likelihood of an overcurrent situation and disruption of the application of power not only to the new circuit but to the prior existing circuit as well.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to obviate the deficiencies of the prior art and to provide a novel device by which an additional separate fused circuit may be provided from an existing fuse block.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel device for the addition of a separate fused circuit easily and quickly installed without the use of tools.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel device adapted to be connected to an existing fuse block, which devices may be stacked to provide a plurality of additional and separately fused circuits.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel device whereby a separate fuse circuit may be added without disruption of the existing circuits.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the claims and from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawings.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded pictorial view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section in elevation taken through lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section in elevation taken through lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 4 is a pictorial view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

TI-[E DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the figures where like numerical indications have been given like parts to facilitate an understanding of the present invention, a connector from a suitable source of power (not shown) is illustrated as being soldered at point 12 to a flat conductor 14 which extends transversely across one end of a suitable conventional phenolic or glass epoxy circuit board 16. Secured to one end of the plate 14 and to the circuit board 16 is a conventional metallic fuse clip 18. The fuse clip 18 may be soldered to the flat conductor 14 or may be secured thereto by means of a conductive rivet 20. A second fuse clip 22 may be similarly secured to the circuit board 16 in electrical contact with the flat conductor 14. Input power from the source (not shown) is thus available at both of the fuse clips 18 and 22 through the flat conductor 14.

A third fuse clip 26 may likewise be secured to the circuit board 16 and a conductor 28 electrically attached thereto in any suitable conventional manner. Similarly, a fourth fuse clip 30 may be secured to the circuit board, 16 and a conductor 32 electrically connected thereto in any suitable conventional manner.

A suitable conventional fuse 34 may be placed in the fuse clips 22 and 30 to establish thereby an electrical connection between the source not shown and the connector 32. In a like manner, a suitable conventional fuse (not shown) may be inserted into the fuse clips 18 and 26 to establish thereby an electrical connection from the same source (not shown) to the conductor 28.

In accordance with the present invention, the fuse is removed from the fuse clips 18 and 26 thereby disrupting the electrical circuit between the conductors 10 and 28 while leaving the electrical circuit between the conductors l0 and 32 intact. The novel assembly of the present invention generally indicated at 36 may then be electrically connected to the fuse clips 18 and 26 as will hereinafter be described.

With continued reference to the figures, the assembly 36 may comprise a circuit board 38 of a suitable conventional dielectric material such as a phenolic or epoxy resin which may carry at one end thereof a fiat conductor 40. A pair of fuse clips 42 and 44 may be secured to the conductor 40 at opposite ends thereof and in electrical contact therewith by any suitable conventional means such as the rivet 20 earlier described or by soldering or welding as illustrated.

A male fuse clip snap-in connector 46is adapted to mate with the fuse clip 18 and may conveniently have a circular configuration at the lower extremity thereof for that purpose. The connector 46 may be made of any suitable electrically conductive material and may have an upwardly extending portion 48 designed to project through an aperture in the circuit board 38 and in the conductor 40. This upwardly extending portion 48 may be upset to form a brad or rivet 50 thereby insuring both a strong mechanical and electrical connection. The power from the source (not shown) as available from the conductor 10 may thus be available at the fuse clips 42 and 44 by the insertion of the mile connection 46 into fuse clip 18.

A pair of fuse clips 52 and 54 may similarly be secured to the other end of the circuit board 38. A second male fuse clip snap-in connector 56 may depend from the other end of the circuit board 38 for insertion into the fuse clip 26. An electrical connection between the fuse clip 26 and the fuse clip 52 may be established by the electrical and mechanical interconnection of the connector 56 to a flat conductor 58 associated with the fuse clip 52 in the same manner as earlier described for the connector 46. For example as shown in FIG. 3, the connector 56 may be of an electrically conducting material and provided with a portion 60 which extends upwardly through an aperture in the circuit board 38 and the fiat conductor 58 to form a rivet 62.

The fuse clip 54 is, however, electrically isolated both from the fuse clip 52 and from the conductor 56 and may be connected mechanically to the circuit board 38 by way of a suitable rivet 64. A conductor 66 may be secured to the fuse clip 54 in electrical contact therewith in any conventional manner, e.g., by soldering to an extension 68 of a flat conductor to which the fuse clip 54 is mounted.

A suitable conventional fuse 70 may be inserted in the fuse clips 44 and 52 to establish an electrical connection therebetween. In this manner, power from the conductor may be applied through the fuse clip 18 and male connector 46 to the fuse clip 44, and from the fuse clip 44 through the fuse 70, fuse clip 52, male connector 56, and fuse clip 26 to the conductor 28. The circuit normally established between the conductors 10 and 28 through a fuse clip is thereby maintained intact with the insertion of the fuse 70.

Power from the conductor 10 is also applied by way of the fuse clip 18 and the connector 46 to the fuse clip 42. The insertion of a suitable conventional fuse 72 into the fuse clips 42 and 54 thereafter establishes an electrical connection through the fuse clip 54 and extension 68 to the conductor 66. A third fused circuit is thus provided.

Installation of the assembly 36 may easily be accomplished. Assume that the circuit board 16 is conventionallymounted in an automobile, for example, with power being applied from the automobile battery through the conductor 10 and fuse 34 to the circuit of conductor 32, and also through a fuse in the clips 18 and 26 to a second circuit associated with conductor 28. Removal of the fuse clips 18 and 26 permits the ready insertion of the connectors 46 and 56 respectively therein to establish the same fused connection between the conductors 10 and 28 by way of the fuse clips 44 and 52 and the fuse 70. A third fuse 72 may thereafter be inserted in the fuse clips 42 and 54 to establish the third fused connection from the conductor 10, i.e., through the fuse clips 42 and 54 and the fuse 72 to the conductor 66 circuit.

A second embodiment of the assembly 36 of FIGS. 1-3 is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the male fuse clip snap-in connectors 46 and 56 have been replaced by suitable conventional fuse clips 74 and 76 respectively. The utilization of fuse clips 74 and 76 rather than the male connectors 46 and 56 may be desirable where the assembly 78 is to be attached by association with male connectors. It is to be understood, of course, that other suitable connector configurations may be utilized as desired.

ADVANTAGES AND SCOPE OF THE INVENTION It is apparent from the foregoing that the fusing of an additional circuit may readily be accomplished by the utilization of the novel assembly of the present invention through the removal of an existing fuse and the direct insertion thereof into the vacated fuse clips. No modification of the existing fuse block is necessary and the operation of existing circuits is in no way impaired. No tools are necessary for the installation of the device of the present invention, and the devices may be stacked as desired to provide still additional fuse circuits.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from thespirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus comprising:

a substantially planar electrical insulator;

first and second electrically conductive conductors extending from one side of said insulator, said conductors being spaced and electrically insulated from each other and each of said conductors being adapted to mechanically and electrically engage a fuse clip; I

first and second electrically conductive fuse clips extending from the other side of said insulator, said fuse clips being electrically connected to each other and to said first conductor; third electrically conductive fuse clip extending from said other side of said insulator, said third fuse clip being electrically connected to said second conductor, said third fuse clip extending from said insulator relative to said first fuse clip in position to be electrically connected thereto by a fuse; and,

a fourth electrically conductive fuse clip extending from said other side of said insulator relative to said second fuse clip in position to be electrically connected thereto by a fuse, said fourth fuse clip being electrically insulated from said first, second and third fuse clips and from said second connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conductors are fuseclips.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said insulator is a synthetic resin; and,

wherein said first and second fuse clips are mechanically and electrically secured to a fiat strip of electrically conductive material having an aperture intermediate said first and second fuse clips,

said first conductor having a portion extending through an aperture in said insulator and through the aperture in said flat strip, the extremity of said portion overlying said flat strip to mechanically and electrically secure said first conductor to said first and second fuse clips.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second fuse clips and at least one of said third and fourth fuse clips are respectively secured to first and second flat strips of electrically conductive material; and,

wherein said first and second conductors include a portion extending respectively through an aperture in said insulator and in one of said flat strips and overlying the respective one of said flat strips to thereby establish an electrical and mechanical connection between said first conductor and one of said first and second fuse clips and between said second conductor and one of said third and fourth fuse clips.

5 a 6 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conductors termediate said first and second fuse clips, have a generally cylindrical cross-section at the end id fi t conductor havi a portion extending thereof to mechamcany and electrically engage a through an aperture in said insulator and through female fuse clip.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said insulator is 5 a synthetic resin; and,

wherein said first and second fuse clips are mechanically and electrically secured to a flat strip of electrically conductive material having an aperture inthe aperture in said flat strip, the extremity of said portion overlying said flat strips to mechanically and electrically secure said first conductor to said first and second fuse clips. 

1. Apparatus comprising: a substantially planar electrical insulator; first and second electrically conductive conductors extending from one side of said insulator, said conductors being spaced and electrically insulated from each other and each of said conductors being adapted to mechanically and electrically engage a fuse clip; first and second electrically conductive fuse clips extending from the other side of said insulator, said fuse clips being electrically connected to each other and to said first conductor; a third electrically conductive fuse clip extending from said other side of said insulator, said third fuse clip being electrically connected to said second conductor, said third fuse clip extending from said insulator relative to said first fuse clip in position to be electrically connected thereto by a fuse; and, a fourth electrically conductive fuse clip extending from said other side of said insulator relative to said second fuse clip in position to be electrically connected thereto by a fuse, said fourth fuse clip being electrically insulated from said first, second and third fuse clips and from said second connector.
 2. The apparaTus of claim 1 wherein said conductors are fuse clips.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said insulator is a synthetic resin; and, wherein said first and second fuse clips are mechanically and electrically secured to a flat strip of electrically conductive material having an aperture intermediate said first and second fuse clips, said first conductor having a portion extending through an aperture in said insulator and through the aperture in said flat strip, the extremity of said portion overlying said flat strip to mechanically and electrically secure said first conductor to said first and second fuse clips.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second fuse clips and at least one of said third and fourth fuse clips are respectively secured to first and second flat strips of electrically conductive material; and, wherein said first and second conductors include a portion extending respectively through an aperture in said insulator and in one of said flat strips and overlying the respective one of said flat strips to thereby establish an electrical and mechanical connection between said first conductor and one of said first and second fuse clips and between said second conductor and one of said third and fourth fuse clips.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conductors have a generally cylindrical cross-section at the end thereof to mechanically and electrically engage a female fuse clip.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said insulator is a synthetic resin; and, wherein said first and second fuse clips are mechanically and electrically secured to a flat strip of electrically conductive material having an aperture intermediate said first and second fuse clips, said first conductor having a portion extending through an aperture in said insulator and through the aperture in said flat strip, the extremity of said portion overlying said flat strips to mechanically and electrically secure said first conductor to said first and second fuse clips. 